The Université Pédagogique Nationale (meaning "National Pedagogical University"), formerly named the Institut Pédagogique National,[2] colloquially referred to by its acronym UPN, is a public institution of higher education dedicated to training teachers, enhancing their skills, and promoting studies and research in applied pedagogy.
[12] On 6 December 1969, the IPN inaugurated its Ecole Normale Supérieure for training associates in sciences intended for upper secondary education.
71-075 of 6 August 1971, the IPN became part of the National University of Zaire (Université nationale du Zaïre; UNAZA), a unified system that included various higher education campuses and technical institutes.
[17][8] In April 2022, Muhindo Nzangi, the Minister of Higher and University Education (Enseignement Supérieur et Universitaire; ESU), announced plans for building and refurbishing facilities at UPN.
[19] The project was initiated by President Félix Tshisekedi and assigned to a Congolese construction firm, with an expected completion timeline of three years.
[19][22] While under construction and rehabilitation, UPN inaugurated its digital library in March 2023 through a public-private partnership with the American company Astria Learning.
[23][24][25] In April 2023, the rehabilitation of edifices accommodating student residences, the amphitheater designated for alleviating the strain on certain faculties grappling with excessive enrollments, and various other structures on the campus were nearing completion.
[29] As a practical field site, the Application School provides students and faculty with authentic environments for observation, experimentation, and implementation of pedagogical techniques.
The service offers guidance counseling, psychological consultations, and advisory support to address diverse needs such as specialization choices, academic program information, school adaptation challenges, and learning difficulties.
[29] This process pursues several objectives: facilitating the selection of academic paths, disseminating information on study courses, addressing school maladjustment, and aiding adaptation to university life.
[29] It is designed to be inclusive of all educational stages, recognizing that such support represents a universal need across all ages and constitutes a continuous process throughout an individual's life.
[29] Formed in response to economic adversities, it strives to safeguard the interests of its constituents, comprising professors, teaching assistants, and department heads.
Alongside social support functions—such as assistance during illness or family bereavement—the association advocates for the professional rights and welfare of its members.